Hurricanes at Flyers – The Recap

This one is late too - I know.  I wanted some content to be available during the break.  In the end, I ended up just posting it right before game night against the Sharks.  Anyway, enjoy!

Entering the night, the Carolina Hurricanes had won six games in a row – and one thing has stood out during that stretch – identity.  The Canes have gotten back to what makes them such a tough team to play.  We have been able to pressure in the attacking zone, get to the forecheck and play steady, complementary defense.   It has been great to see.  One thing I do want to mention – teams are going to get their chances.  That’s how it goes sometimes.  The goal isn’t to not allow any – ideally, that would happen, but it’s nearly impossible to not allow a chance.  No, the goal is to limit opportunities by the opposition and play sound defense in those instances where they do have chances.

Against the Philadelphia Flyers, the goal would be to stick with what has worked through this recent stretch of games. 

Below are my thoughts on the game:

• The line combinations and defensive pairings stayed the same as the previous game against the Red Wings.  Additionally, the Kotkaniemi line ended up getting the opening face-off duties.  That line did a great job early on keeping the pressure up in the attacking zone, cycling through and making the Flyers cover.
• Pyotr Kochetkov was tasked with duties in the crease – over the last hand full of games (including this one) he has been great.  He still has his moments where I scratch my head and say, “why is he there?” or “where did his stick go?”.  I will say, the more experience he gets, the less I am going to question these things because he will be more mature and will have grown up some.  These things are still things a young goalie might feel he can get away with, but it’s the NHL – you won’t get away with certain things.
• In the early going, it looked as though the pace of the game was a little slower than the previous games.  That can happen when playing a back-to-back.  Get comfortable playing a lot.
• The Aho line finished a great shift with a goal – it was highlighted by Jackson Blake, making a driving move to the net, through the crease where the puck popped out to Sebastain Aho, who buried it.  It was challenged by John Tortorella but was upheld (which made me think we were in the upside down – those calls never seem to go our way).  In any event, 1-0 good guys.
• After the challenge that was unsuccessful, we went to the power play – the 2^nd unit had a couple good looks, but no goals.  We got another power play later in the period and the 1^st unit had a couple looks, but again, no goals.  It seems like we are close – the hope is that the dam will bust, and our power play will have some confidence heading into the playoffs (which would be the right time for that).
• The line combination after a power play has been Robinson-Staal-Martinook – that grouping looks good together – all three of them are puck hounds and are good at keeping the puck in the zone.  I like that combination after a power play.  With Stankoven playing on the 2^nd power play unit, it’s nice to see Robinson get that opportunity to get some minutes with those guys.
• Let’s talk about Mark Jankowski – what a great pickup at the deadline.  He buried two more this game, but I am more impressed with his detailed approach, getting to spots and winning battles to be in those spots.  He also wasn’t afraid to defend himself when he was thrown over the boards into the Philly bench.  His linemates (Eric Robinson and Tyson Jost) have really accented what he does well, which is get in front of the net to poke pucks through the goalie.  He and his linemates also had a great shift prior to the end of the 1^st period, where it was all zone time.  I have said it before, but teams are going to have to reckon with our 4^th line.  Those dudes are good. 
• The difference in the 1^st period was Pyotr Kochetkov – his timely saves on chances that were Grade-A level were next level.  I thought we were 50/50 with them through the course of the game to that point – that said, we had two that got through, they had to deal with a wall.
• It has been a growing theme, but Kotkaniemi and his linemates have taken the opening draw each period over the last handful of games.  Two things that I love about it – first, this shows the level of trust Rod and staff have in him in taking the draws and being able to win them.  He’s done well in the circle.  Second, this gives the Jordan’s a little less stress on their plates.  Can they do it?  Yes.  But if someone else can do it, it only helps.  Let’s save their legs for the playoffs.
• Immediately, that line drew a penalty – but they did so much more through the game – I’ll highlight Jesperi for a minute – he had such a detail-oriented game, good checks, got pucks deep, won draws, dislodged pucks with good stick play.  Just an awesome game for Kotkaniemi.
• We finally get a power play goal (off the power play that was drawn by Taylor Hall at the start of the 2^nd period).  It starts with a clean draw and great urgency to get to the net front – Blake eventually gets it through some traffic to Gostisbehere, who found Taylor Hall and he finished on the doorstep.  This is how this should look moving forward.  3-0 us.
• Logan Stankoven was making his presence felt throughout this game.  Some of the notes I had:
• He looks quick – I love how he is hounding the puck and playing with a sense of urgency.  He fits nicely along a variety of lines, glad to see him with the Jordans.
• What a great non-goal he had – it was wiped off because of a Jordan Staal offsides that was tracked later (after the goal).  It was an awesome finish of a Jordan Martinook feed behind the net.  And Stank was out front.
• Later in the game, he had another great chance out in front of the net.  I’ll start calling that area his office. 
• He made some smart puck plays, including lofting it out of the defensive zone to give Robinson a chance at a play at the puck.
• About our defense
• Jaccob Slavin – stellar again.  He had some opportunities offensively too, but defensively, he’s incredible.
• Brent Burns – another solid game defensively.  He’s been stacking games for almost a month now.  All the hate online can pause for a while – he’s been good.
• Scott Morrow – he drew in for Dimitri Orlov again, who missed another game with an injury.  Morrow, to his credit, was really good.  He got over 16 minutes of ice time, albeit most of it not against Philly’s top six.  He was good offensively, as well, making smart plays with the puck and eventually burying one that was assisted by Stankoven.  It would be Scotty’s first.  He is game ready for next season – I think he’ll be with us, but I could see him moved as part of a potential package too.  You have to give to get folks.
• Between the 2^nd and 3^rd periods, we were puck hounds.  Every single one of them was just menacing in the neutral zone, making life miserable for the Flyers.  Additionally, our pressure in their end and puck possession really forced them to be on the defensive more than the attacking end of things.  To run a shift in your own end and finish it dumping it out just so your opponent can go on the attack again…that had to be frustrating.  Pyotr was great – making save after save look easy. 

In the end, it was a 5-0 shutout victory.  We were great across the board, making all the right plays, pinching at the right time, playing complementary defense and getting timely saves.  Philly had their stretches where they pushed, but all positive marks to the Hurricanes for thwarting any chance that they had.  That makes seven in a row.

Up next:  A trip to California to take on the San Jose Sharks (AKA – Sharknado Night!).